'The creatures, too, must become free': Marx and the Animal/Human Distinction

It has been claimed that Marx lacked respect for animals, thinking of them as inferior beings. Lawrence Wilde argues that, on the contrary, Marx had a respectful attitude towards animals and non-human nature in general. Marxs attitude to the non-human is intrinsic to his humanistic outlook, grounded in an understanding of the human essence, for which maltreatment of animals is contrary to a communistic vision. Wilde approaches the question of Marxs attitude to animals and nature within the wider context of Marxs ethics.